Banda Aceh – The Marine Science and Fisheries Research Center of Syiah Kuala University (PRKP USK), in collaboration with the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC USK), successfully held a “Tsunami Modeling Training using the Cornell Multi-grid Coupled Tsunami Model (COMCOT).”
The three-day training was attended by participants from various institutions and universities with diverse academic backgrounds interested in disaster management, oceanography, and numerical modeling.
The training aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge and skills in understanding the mechanisms of tsunami formation, propagation, and impact through a numerical modeling approach using COMCOT software. This model is widely used internationally in tsunami studies, including in large-scale simulations such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
During the three-day training, participants received a variety of materials, including an introduction to basic tsunami concepts, ocean wave propagation theory, an introduction to the COMCOT interface, and real-world data-based modeling exercises. In the practical session, participants were trained to run simulations of tsunami wave propagation from an underwater earthquake source, analyze wave propagation patterns, and interpret the results in the form of distribution maps and inundation depths (inundation maps).
Instructors and speakers from the USK TDMRC also shared their experiences in conducting tsunami research, from data collection and numerical processing to validating model results with field data. The interactive, hands-on learning approach made it easier for participants to understand the relationship between theory and field application.
Prof. Syamsidik, one of the speakers, explained that this training was part of the university’s efforts to strengthen research and education capacity in the field of disaster management. “This activity not only provides technical experience but also raises awareness of the importance of tsunami disaster mitigation through science and technology. We hope participants can apply the skills they gain to research and other academic activities,” he said.
Participants welcomed the activity, as it provided new insights into how numerical models can be used to more accurately estimate tsunami impacts. Many participants expressed that the training opened new insights into the potential for future research and development of early warning systems.
In addition to improving individual competencies, this activity also strengthened the collaborative network between research institutions within Syiah Kuala University. The collaboration between PRKP and TDMRC is expected to continue through further training, joint research projects, and scientific publications in the fields of earth and marine sciences.
